Gabriel and Halle - who split in 2010 - have been at odds ever since she tried to convince a judge to allow her to move to France with Nahla, a move which was recently blocked by the courts.

Injured: Olivier is understood to be considering pressing charges

Downcast: After their Thanksgiving plans were thrown into disarray Halle and her daughter and fiancé visited a friend's house for dinner

Strained: The family head home, with Nahla in the back seat

Onlookers toldTMZthe fight was 'brutal', with the website describing a blow-by-blow account of the melee.

A source said: 'Olivier blocked [Gabriel's punch] and the punch struck him in the shoulder instead... Gabriel then pushed Olivier to the ground, a struggle ensued, ending when Olivier pinned Gabriel to the ground.'

Olivier performed a citizen's arrest on his love rival, before police were called to the scene and arrested Aubry for battery. He was charged upon his discharge from hospital and released after meeting the $20,000 bail.

Calm before the storm: Halle and Olivier headed out for lunch at Angelini Osteria in West Los Angeles prior to the fight

A judge then issued an emergency protective order - meaning Aubry has to stay 100 yards away from Halle and Olivier, as well as his daughter Nahla.

Gabriel was taken to hospital for his injuries after suffering a broken rib, bruises to the face and a possible more serious head injury, with there being conflicting reports as to whether he was left unconscious following the bloody brawl.

Olivier has a potentially broken hand and neck injuries., and arrived at the same Los Angeles hospital for treatment as Gabriel around an hour after him.

Painful: Olivier Martinez was sporting a swollen hand and a painful-looking bruise on his face

Harrowing: The strain was clear to see on both Halle and Olivier's faces as they drove away from the hospital

It is unclear whether four-year-old Nahla witnessed the fight between her father and future stepfather.

However, the youngster was later seen being carried in her mother's arms as the anxious looking actress arrived home with Olivier following his discharge from hospital.

After a brief stop at home, the pair headed to a friend's house nearby.

Injuries: Olivier Martinez could be seen with wounds on his neck on Thursday following a fight with Gabriel Aubry

Stuck in the middle: It is unclear whether or not Nahla, seen leaving home following the fight with Halle, witnessed the altercation

Crisis talks: Halle and Olivier were seen arriving at a friend's house following the fight

Martinez, who has apparently become increasingly bitter during the custody battle, is said to be keen to press charges, TMZ reports.

A source told TMZ: 'Gabriel went nuts in front of Halle and other witnesses.'

However, details about the argument are unclear because both men were speaking in French.

VIDEO: Bruised Olivier tight lipped when asked who started fight...

Booking sheet: Gabriel Aubry was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of battery and bail was set at $20,000

Gabriel, a French-Canadian model who lives and works in Los Angeles, had petitioned the court to stop Halle's plans to move to France with Nahla.

He argued it would give him limited access to his daughter, while the Cloud Atlas actress countered the privacy laws are stronger in France and would keep Nahla safe from the paparazzi.

She said at the time: 'Our issues were never about fighting for her. We both know a child needs both her parents. But what I want to say about it is sometimes, as a couple, you reach an impasse.

'We needed a court and a judge to help us work out some of the delicate issues, and I'm so happy we've arrived at that place – because for her sake, this is the best way. We both love her more than life.'

Halle, 46 - who split with Gabriel in 2010 - and Olivier, had put their wedding plans on hold while the actress focused on her custody battle.

Thanksgiving drama: Gabriel Aubry, pictured here attending the same party as Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez in LA on Wednesday, was arrested after a 'brutal' brawl on Thursday

Tense: Halle and Olivier, also pictured on Wednesday, recently lost a custody battle to take Nahla to his native France

Aubry filed legal papers in December 2010, seeking formal recognition as Nahla's father, as well as joint legal and physical custody.

At the time, a representative for the actress said: 'Halle has serious concerns for her daughter's well-being while in the care of her father for any extended period of time.'

But a spokesperson for the model soon responded: 'The fact is that Gabriel is a caring father who shares custody of Nahla.'

Just 24 hours prior to the vicious spat, Halle, Oliver and Gabriel all attended an early Thanksgiving celebration in Los Angeles with Nahla.

While Halle and Olivier picked up Nahla from school and drove her to the party, her father took her home with him on Wednesday.

The Oscar-winning actress looked strained as she left the event carrying a feathered headpiece and jacket belonging to her daughter.

Fight: Gabriel, pictured taking Nahla home on Wednesday, was injured in the brawl. Halle seen with Nahla, right, earlier on Wednesday

In happier times: Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry were together for four years, before calling time on their relationship in April 2010

In her custody battle, Halle claimed Los Angeles was not the ideal place for her daughter to grow up, due to the constant glare of the paparazzi.

She has insisted that it was not an attempt to keep Nahla's model father away from her.

The Monster's Ball actress made a rare comment about her custody battle with Gabriel toInStylemagazine this month.

'There is turbulence, but this too shall pass,' she said.

Halle and Gabriel split in April 2010 after more than four years of dating, and she soon began a relationship with actor Olivier. They confirmed their engagement in March.

Nahla in the middle: The child has been at the centre of the bitter feud

Halle has previously said being a mother to little Nahla has made her feel 'complete' as a person.

She explained in an interview with Essence magazine: 'I'm complete. I have more to offer my craft because [my daughter] makes me indelibly better every day.'

Prior to their split, Gabriel had even spoken about giving their daughter a sibling.

He told People: 'Nahla needs a sibling. I think it's important. I've never known anybody who's had a single child [and] I've always been around big families. I believe in big families.'

Happier times: Halle, Gabriel and Nahla seen in a cute beach snap in Miami back in 2009